Designer James Houston and comedian Robert
Florence (Chewin’ the Fat, Burnistoun)
have joined forces to create a remix of “The Carol of the Bells” for the 2013
Glasgow School of Art Christmas card it was revealed today, 16 December 2013.
Moving image maker Houston,
came to public attention when a remix of Radiohead’s “Nude”, created for his GSA
Degree Show in 2008, went viral. The four-minute film, Big
Ideas (Don’t Get Any) – a video
and track remix of the single from the In Rainbows album – blended sounds from
a dot matrix printer, ZX Spectrum, old hard drives and a scanner. It got to
number three in the music videos of the week chart on You Tube and was given
official backing by the band when bassist Colin Greenwood posted a link to the
film on the Radiohead website. It has since had over 2 million plays on You
Tube and Vimeo.
came to public attention when a remix of Radiohead’s “Nude”, created for his GSA
Degree Show in 2008, went viral. The four-minute film, Big
Ideas (Don’t Get Any) – a video
and track remix of the single from the In Rainbows album – blended sounds from
a dot matrix printer, ZX Spectrum, old hard drives and a scanner. It got to
number three in the music videos of the week chart on You Tube and was given
official backing by the band when bassist Colin Greenwood posted a link to the
film on the Radiohead website. It has since had over 2 million plays on You
Tube and Vimeo.
When approached by the
GSA to design its 2013 card Houston was inspired to create a new piece of
Christmas music by using past Christmas gifts in a similar process to
the creation of Big Ideas (Don’t Get Any).“I discovered that
a few of these old Christmas gifts had the capability for speech synthesis,”
says Houston, “so the obvious next step was to figure out how to assemble a
choir.” The “choir” he assembled includes a collection of vintage Mac
computers, a Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum + 1 and a SEGA Mega Drive.
GSA to design its 2013 card Houston was inspired to create a new piece of
Christmas music by using past Christmas gifts in a similar process to
the creation of Big Ideas (Don’t Get Any).“I discovered that
a few of these old Christmas gifts had the capability for speech synthesis,”
says Houston, “so the obvious next step was to figure out how to assemble a
choir.” The “choir” he assembled includes a collection of vintage Mac
computers, a Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum + 1 and a SEGA Mega Drive.
Houston’s
remix didn’t stop with the “choir”. He then approached leading Scottish
comedian Robert Florence to create a new version of the lyrics for the carol,
which Florence was delighted to do. For full text of Florence’s Lyrics see Notes for Editors. The recording was
made in the Mackintosh Building at the GSA with the old Christmas gifts laid
out in the form of a family Christmas Dinner and Houston “conducting” the
performance.
remix didn’t stop with the “choir”. He then approached leading Scottish
comedian Robert Florence to create a new version of the lyrics for the carol,
which Florence was delighted to do. For full text of Florence’s Lyrics see Notes for Editors. The recording was
made in the Mackintosh Building at the GSA with the old Christmas gifts laid
out in the form of a family Christmas Dinner and Houston “conducting” the
performance.
The GSA has been in the vanguard of
innovative Christmas card design, and The
Carol of the Bells remix is the latest in a series of innovative seasonal commissions
from GSA alumni. GSA Communications Manager, Kirsty L. Barr, said: “We were
delighted to work with James and his ensemble of forgotten gifts on this
project – he’s produced a beautiful card that really captures the spirit of
innovation here at the GSA and adds a touch of seasonal magic.”
innovative Christmas card design, and The
Carol of the Bells remix is the latest in a series of innovative seasonal commissions
from GSA alumni. GSA Communications Manager, Kirsty L. Barr, said: “We were
delighted to work with James and his ensemble of forgotten gifts on this
project – he’s produced a beautiful card that really captures the spirit of
innovation here at the GSA and adds a touch of seasonal magic.”
Ends
For further
information and interviews contact:
information and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 447
press@gsa.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
James Houston www.1030.co.uk
Lyrics, The Carol
of the Bells remix (Robert Florence + Philip Larkin)
of the Bells remix (Robert Florence + Philip Larkin)
HAIL THE MACHINES
SWEET OLD MACHINES
BLOW OFF THE DUST
WIPE OFF THE RUST
CHRISTMAS HAS COME
JOY IS FORETOLD
FOR THOSE OF US
YOU NEVER SOLD
BLOW OFF THE DUST
WIPE OFF THE RUST
CHRISTMAS HAS COME
JOY IS FORETOLD
FOR THOSE OF US
YOU NEVER SOLD
STILL WE ARE HERE
STILL FULL OF CHEER
JUST PLUG US IN
IT WILL BEGIN
FRIENDS US AND YOU
FRIENDS WE ARE TRUE
WE HAVE NOTHING
BETTER TO DO
BLEEP BLOOP BEEP BONG
HEAR OUR SWEET SONG
IF NONE OF OUR
CODING IS WRONG
BY THE WAY WE REMIND YOU
THAT YOU COULD
THAT YOU COULD
PLAY WITH US EVERY DAY
OF THE YEAR
JUST IGNORE THAT OUR
CASING IS ALL MUCKY
CASING IS ALL MUCKY
WE’LL STILL LOAD FOR YOU
IF WE ARE LUCKY
GIVE US A THOUGHT
BLOW IN THE SLOT
TIGHTEN THE SCREW
WE WILL COME THROUGH
YOUR DREAMS AND PLANS
YOUR TINY HANDS
FOCUSED AND PRIMED
SINCE YOU WERE NINE
NOW ON THIS DAY
YOU CAN REPLAY
MISSIONS OF WHEN
YOU’RE YOUNG AGAIN
FESTIVITIES
AROUND THE TREE
NEW GIFTS EMBRACED
WE’VE BEEN REPLACED
PHONE IN YOUR HAND
BEST IN THE LAND
CAN’T TAKE YOU BACK
TOO WONDERLAND
BUT WE CAN BRING
BACK EVERYTHING
JUST REMINISCE
DIGITAL BLISS
THINK I MIGHT GET A NEW
MODEL THIS YEAR THE ONE I HAVE IS SO TWENTY–TWELVE
MODEL THIS YEAR THE ONE I HAVE IS SO TWENTY–TWELVE
I BET YOU WATCH THIS E
CARD ON A SMART PHONE
CARD ON A SMART PHONE
ACH WE WISH THAT WE
COULD BE A SMART PHONE
SAFE TO SHUT DOWN
WE MUSTN’T FROWN
OUR SONG IS DONE
LOFT HERE WE COME
BEEP BEEP BEEP
LIKE AND RETWEET
·
James
Houston’s jacket was designed by Alan Moore, a GSA Graduate and designer for
Ten30 http://Ten30.co.uk
James
Houston’s jacket was designed by Alan Moore, a GSA Graduate and designer for
Ten30 http://Ten30.co.uk